Apparatus for producing varying speed gearing



E. J. HLINSKY APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VARYING SPEED GEARING Filed Nov. 22, 1946 July 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 7 VENTOR/ ATTORNEY E. J. HLINSKYI July 8, 1952 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VARYING SPEED GEARING Filed Nov. 22, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JQVWOR Emw fim&%

Jrrapmsy E- J. HLINSKY APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VARYING SPEED GEARING Filed Nov. 22, 1946 July 8, 1952 '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented July '8, 1952 -H1insk-y, Ghicago, 111., 'assignor :to Goodman-.Manufacturing Company, Chicago, 111., a

' v cor-porat ionof Illinois i f ApplicationNovember 22,1946, Serial'No. 711,745

This invention relates to'methods and apparatus for producing varying speed gearing.

'An application Serial No.-'702,724, filed by William W. Sloaneon October '11, 1946, now Patent No. $585,971, issued February 19,1952, and entitled lmprovements in Gearing, discloses was. (01. 904) a new and novel form c-f varying speed gearing I inwh-ich the speed variations are attained by modifying the gear teeth sothe pi-nion teeth may contact the gear teeth along contact lines which cross the common center line of the-gear and pinion at varyingpointswith respect to the tips and roots of the "teethofthe gear and pinion. With this form of varying speed gearing, varying speed sets oigearing may be produced with round gear and pinion blanks and a concentric pinion having a standard tooth form, 'andwith a round pinion blank having a standard tooth form and mounted eccentrically' of itscenter'a'nd an irregularlyshaped gear blank, as' may' clearly be understood with reference to the-aforementioned Sloane application; 1 v r l The principal object of invention is to provide a novel, simple andeflicient method'for generating varying speed, gearing offthe types disclosed in the aforementioned application with a pinion-shaped cutter. I

A more specific object-of my invention is to provide-a new and novel method an'd device for adapting a gear shaper to produce varying speed gears of the foregoing types-with 'a pinionshaped cutter, in a continuous operation:

In carrying out my invention-'Imount a pinion-shaped cutter 'having'thesa'me number of teeth and of the same tooth iorm a's th'e'pinion which will drive the. varying speed gear, on the cutter spindle of' a gearshaper. I also'mount a gear blank-on the work 'spindle o'fx'the gear shaper for relative movement with "respect thereto, and" rotatably"- turn the :gear blank on the work spi-ndleduring the cutting operation at a varying speed as the pinionturnsat a constant' speed, so the gear andc'utter' will turn during cutting at the same'varying speed ratio at which the finished gear'and :pinion'are to operate; v v

These and other objects of myinvention will appear from time to time asthe follow'ingspeciflcation proceeds and with reference to the'accompan-ying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a gear shaper with certain parts broken away, and showinga pinion shapedcutter in the operation of cutting a varying speed gear-in accordancewith my invention; 1

' involute pinion B whichtis also Figure 2isa fragmentary sectional :view' taken substantially along line 2 2. of Figure '1';

Figure 3 is a fragmentary:horizontatsectionaJl view taken through the gear blank andishowing certain details of in Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a view showing one form or varying speed gear which may be. producedbythe method and apparatus of my: invention.

In the drawings 1. have shown the-.cutter,

work blank, and apron of a gear t-shaper,.which may be'of the Fellows type andmay'zinclude a cutter spindle it 'havinga outter'czll mounted thereon for reciprocating movement in-a vertical plane and for turnin'gfmo-vement ina horizontal plane during the shaping or generating operation; in the manner usual with gear shapers oithe generating type. Said. cutter may. "be :a standard formof. :pinioneshaped cutter? and should have'the samenun'iber :of :teeth" with the same tooth profile as the pinion which will; drive thefinished' gear. .I'h'ave aISQiShOWIL inEigure e afinished' varying speedig'ear .A'made from a circular gear blank in accordance with :my invention and mounted for. rotation about its scen ter and shown as being driven from a standard :mounted .for retation'aboutitscenter:

A work spindle 1 2 is shown as being :mounted in an apron l3 of the. gear shaper for pivotal movement with respect thereto in the usual manner." Said work spindle is rotatably turned from alower index ywheel (not shown) which may be a worm 'wheel, andsaid workspindle and apron may yield horizontally during the upward or return movement of the cutter H, to enable the cutter to clear'the' workduring'its return travel. An adapter M" is secured :to said work spindle for. rotation therewith. fiaid adapter in turn has aniarbor 'l,5"mountedtherein and extendingupwardly therefrom, which-is adapted to have "awork table l6 keyed thereto. Said worktable in'turn is adapted to :have .agear blank ['1 mounted thereon iorirelative movement with' respect thereto duringxcuttinghon a'work mandrel 18, it being understood that in the conjugate generating of constant speed gearing the cutter and gear blank turn at the same speed ratio at which the finished gear and pin-ion are to operate; that is, for .afzzl ratio the gear blank will rotate at half the speed of the cutter.

A means is provided for turning the igearblank H at .a speed which varies 'with'respect to the speed oi'the. work table Hi, so that the cutter and gear blank will rotateiat thesame varying my invention not shown speed ratio at which the finished gear and pinion are to operate. Said varying speed drive means includes a stationary cam 19 mounted on the arbor l beneath the work table It. Said cam has an arm 20 extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom and abutting the top of the apron l3 and secured thereto by cap screws 2 I, 2|. An annular thrust bearing plate 22 is interposed between the bottom of said cam and the top of the adapter l4, while an annular thrust bearing plate 23 is interposed between a shoulder 24 of the arbor l5 and an under portion of the cam I9. A flanged bearing member 25 is also interposed between the center of said cam and said arbor and between the bottom of the work table l6 and the top of said cam, to permit free rotation of said adapter, arbor, and work table with respect to saidcam. Said cam is so shaped as to cause relative movement of I the gear blank I! with respect to the work table I6 during the operation'of generating the varying speed gear, so as to move said gear blank at the required varying speed during the cutting operation, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

The cam I 9 is engaged by a roller 25 journaled on a pivotal pin .21, secured to and depending from the outer end of a lever arm 29of a bell crank 30. Said bell crank has a bifurcated centrol portion and the furcations thereof extend along the upper and lower sides of a bracket 3|. Said bracket projects outwardly from the work table [6 and said bell crank is pivotally connected thereto by means of a pivotal pin 32. An arm 33' of said bell crank extends inwardly from said pivotal pin along the upper side of said bracket and has gear teeth 34 cut integrally with the inner side thereof. The center of the pitch circle of said gear teeth is herein shown as being coaxial with the pivotal axis of said bell crank. Said gear teeth mesh with gear teeth 35 herein shown as extendingoutwardly from and as being formed integrally with the mandrel It. The distance from the contact point ofthe roller 26 on the end of the arm 29 with the cam [9 to the pivotal axis of. the'bell crank 30 is herein shown as being twice the distance from the pivotal axis of said cam to the pitch circle of the teeth 34 on the end of the arm 33. Also, the angular ratio'between the teeth 34 on the arm 33 of the bell crank 30 and the teeth on the mandrel I8 is herein shown as being a 2:1 ratio, giving a final angular ratio from :the roller 26 to the center'of the gear blank of 2:1. It should be understood, however, that various other ratios may be used if desired.

A meansisprovided to take up backlash between the teeth 34 and 35 and to yieldably-hold the roller 26 in engagement with the face of the cam l9. Said means is herein shown as being a weight 39 depending from the free end of a flexible cable 40. Saidcable is trained over a sheave 4| mounted on a bracket 42 secured to and extending upwardly from an outer upright lip 43 of the apron l3, and extends inwardly from said sheave and is wrapped around a spiral groove 44, formed in the outer periphery of the mandrel l8. A machine screw'45 threaded in said mandrel is provided to secure the inner end of said cable to said mandrel. Said weight thus exerts a tension on said flexible cable s-ufiicient to take up backlash between the gear teeth 34 and 35 and to yieldably hold the roller 26 in engagement with the face of the cam I 9, so said roller will follow said oam and move said bell crank and said mandrel relatively to said work table, as said cam varies from the form of a true circle.

Theform of the cam l9 may be determined by the movement or displacement of the roller 26 on the end of the lever arm 29 of the bell crank 30 necessary-to move the, gear-blank]?! with respect to the work table [6 at the required varying speed, so the varying speed ratio between said gear blank and the cutter II will be the same as thevarying speed ratio at which the finished gear and pinion are to rotate. As for example, when it is desired to cut a varying speed gear like the'gear shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, theform f the cam [9 may be determined from the speed ratio curve of the finished gear and pinion like the illustrative form of speed ratio curve shown in Figure 5 of the drawings of said aforementioned Sloane application. The cam I9, herein shown, has been calculated from such a speed ratiogcurve and the gear being cut from the blank ll-will be-like the gear shown in Figure 1 of said application. Thepoints on the curve of the cam may be determined by measuring the area of the curve from its starting point to the'pinion positionbeing considered. I When this area; is, multiplied: by a suitable constant determined by the scale ofthe ordinate and abscissa of the curve,ithe angular positions of thelever arm, 29 of said bellcrank will be obtained for each 'pinionposition. When these angular positions: are translated to linear dimensions the true displacement of said lever arm may be determined for each pinion position, in a manner well known: to those skilled in the art, so not herein shown or described. It is, of course, readily apparent that various forms of cams calculated from various other desired speed ratio curves will produce other forms ofvarying speed gears than are described herein, 'tomeet various desired requirements. I

In the illustrative form of'my invention just described; the varying speed gear-and pinion rotate about axes concentric with their centers. When, however, 'it'is desired to have a greater variation inspeed than may be obtained from a concentric gear and pinion, the cutter H may be mounted eccentrically' of its center on the cutter'spindle- I 0 with the same degree of eccentricity that the finished pinion driving the finished varying speed gear will have, as hasbeen described ;in the aforementioned Sloane application. The putter; will turn at a constant speed and its tooth profiles'will bethe same as the tooth profiles of the eccentric pinion which will drive the finished gear. The shape of the cam which will cause the gear blank to turn at thev correct varying speed may be obtained from the desired speedratio 'curveof the gear andpinion, as previously described. The cutter and gear blank may then be turned at the same varying speed ratio: during the cutting operation at which it is desired that the finished gear and pinion rotate, with the result that a varying speed gear of a form similarto-that shown in Figure 6 of said aforementioned Sloane application may be attained. Where the cutter is mounted eccentrically of itscenter, the gear blank will be of an irregular form, while the gear blank will have a circular outer periphery. where the cutter rotates concentrically-0f its center.

In generating the varying speed gear from the gear blank l1-,; the apron of the gear shaper may be swung outwardly away from the cutter spindle and the earn [9 may first be secured to the apron 5, ofthegear shaper; coaxial iwith'zthezarbor 115, by thezcap screws 12112]: 'lherworlntablel fiiand the mandrel. 13' Fmayithenr'be :placedzon said :arbor, with the'teeth M'IneshedWithihe teeth 35;; The roller-'26 nn'ithe endofth'e lever armi29 of thezoel'l crank .30 may alsobe 1 engaged :with ithesurface of said cam. Backlash between the teeth 34xand B'Srmay be take nmp and .said rollermay: be held iniengagement withrsaid ca'm, bytmeanswoflthe hanging weight w 39? on the end of .theicab'le: M1; wrapped i'around isaidsmandrel and trained fov'er thelsheaveflh TheiIgear .1blank1'i'r'which :will be circular when generating the f or'i'iva'rying speed" gearishownz in Figure alofzzthe drawings, may then be secured-to said tn'aandrel ;as': by icap screws 46,46; The fcutter '1 l l beingsecured Ito the end of the cutter spindle 1 T0, "the apron I3 1 may thenbe swung back in lplaccn The lsh'aperimay then be started in Loperationto; feed said cutter radially to the- 'proper tooth depth. The shaper may then be operated to turn 'the cutter and gear blank with respect to each other duringreciprocable movement of said cutter'in the direction of its axis to 1 effect cutting of 1 the teeth of the gear; it being understood thatas herein shown,

the cutter travelsvertically, makinga eut in the gear blank as it moves in one directiong and that the gear blankandapron ofthe machine y i'elfdably move awayfr-om the cutter during "its 'return strokes, and return into a cutting position as the cutter is ready to make its cutting. stroke. At the same timethe cutter is turning about the axis of the spindle I0, and the gear'hl-ank i1 isturning with the ar'bor I5, said-gear blank is also moved relatively tosai-d'arb'or about the aXis-ofsaid arbor by the cam i9 and'b'ell crank-30in'the hereinbeioredescribed manner; so the gear blank and cutter'will turn at the same varying speed-ratio at which the finished gear and *pinion are to operate; When the 'gearb'lank has-made one complete revolution, a varying speed gear will be completed which when driven from a; pinion having the same number of teeth' as the cutter, will rotate at thesame varying speedratioat which the cutter andgear. blank rotatediduring thecutting operation: V I r I It should here be understood, however, that whereextreme accuracy of .J'thB'ftOOl'ih profile .is desired, a rough 'cutmay first be takenwhich'iwili extend for onerfull revolution of the gear blank and .a finish cut may then beftaLkenior a second revolution of the gearblank, either with a sep arate finish cutter or -by",.moving" the, cutter into slightly deeper mesh with the gear for-the finish out than for the rough cut. I

While I have herein shown and describedlone form in which my invention maybe embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof; Furthermore, I' do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to "the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as' it may be limited in the appended claims;

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for adaptingagear shaperhaving a pinion-shaped cutter rotatably driven at a constant speed-during itsreciprocating cutting operation to generate a varying'speed gear a continuous operation including a work table mounted on the work spindle of the shaper for rotation therewith, a mandrel mounted on said workitable for relative movement with-respect thereto and adapted tohave a :gear blank mounted thereon, and an operative connection between said :work table -and'said mandrel; for turningjsaid mandreland-gear blank with :said work table at speeds whichvarywith respect to the speed of said 'work'table, tocause said gear blank andcutter to turn during the cutting operation at the same varying :speed'ratio' at which the finished gear and pinion will operate. i q

2. A device foradaptirig a gear shaper having a pinion-shaped cutterirotatably, driven at a constant speed'during' its reciprocating-cutting operation to generate avarying speedpgear in a continuous operation including awork table mounted on thework'spindle oil the shaper for rotation therewith, a mandrel mounted onsaid work table for" relative movement with respect thereto and adapted to :havea gear blank mounted thereon, .astationary*cam',.a rocking arm pivotally mounted on said work table and having operative engagement with saidica'm, and means actuated by said'rocking arm for 'imoving said mandrel relative to 1 said work table whilebeing' rotatably driven thereby, to cause said gear blank and cutter to turn during the cutting operation at the sameivarying" speed ratio at which the finished gear and pinion'will operate, 1 3; A device for" adapting a" gear 'shaper'having .a pinion-shaped cutteri' rotatablydriven.at a

constant 1 speed *during its reciprocating cutting operation to generate a varying; speed gearv in a continuous operation includingla .work table mounted on the work spindle of the shaper for rotation therewith, amandrel mountedionssaid work tablefor relative movement withtrespect thereto and adapted to have a gearblankmounted thereon, .a stationary cam, a'bell crank pivotally mounted on said'work table, one lever arm of said bell crank having "operative engagement withsaid foam 'and' the other: lever arm of said bell .crankhaving operative connection with said mandrel, and meansfcr holdingsai'd 'onelever arm of "said b'ell crank in engagement with said cam; to" cause saidbell crank to move said mandrel-relative to said work table during rotation thereof, to cause-saidgear blanlrandcutter to turn'dur'ing the cutting'operation at the same varying speed ratio at which the finished gear and pinion will operate. r

4 A -device for adapting a gearzshaper 'having zpinion shaped cutter rotatably drivenata constant speed during its reciprocating cutting op eration to :generater-a varying spced'gear in a continuous operation including a; work; table mounted 'on the work spindles cf the shaper for rotation therewith, a mandrelzmounted on said work table :for relative movement .witharespect -theretoand adapted to have a gear blank mounted thereon, a stationary "cam, a bellcrankpivotally mounted "on said work table, one lever" arm .of said bell crankvha-ving-cperative engagement with said cam,- meansvfer holding said ojn'e' lever arm engagement h said Vca-m,-.-the other lever arm fofsaid bel ankhaving gear teeth out integrally: therewith; the center 'onthe epitch circle of which gear teeth i'ScOEtXi'fllfWlththt-l pivotal axis Of'fSElLid hell crank; said :gear teeth meshingwith .agear sector onsaid'ma'ndrel, the center of the pitch circle-of which is coaxial with the pivotal axis of said mandrel, formovingsaid mandrel relative to said work table and for-rotatably moving said mandrel with said work table [upon rotation thereof, tocause said gear :blank and cutter to "turn during the cutting operation at the same varying 1 speed r'atio at whichxthe finished gear :and pinion will; operate.

5,. A devicefor adapting a' gear shaper having a pinion-shaped cutter rotatably driven'at a constant speed during its reciprocating cutting operationto generate a varyingispeed gear in a continuous "operation including a work table mounted on the workspindleof the shaper for rotation therewith, a mandrel mounted on said work table for relativemovementwith respect thereto and adapted to h'avea-gear blank mounted thereon, a stationary cam mounted coaxially with said work spindle, a rocking arm pivotally mounted on said work table, means for engaging said rocking-arm with-said cam, and means operated by said rocking arm during rotation thereof with said work table for moving said mandrel and said gear blank relative to said work tablewhile rotatably moving said mandrel and gear blank with said work table, to cause said gear blank and said cutter to rotate at .the same varying speed ratio during the cutting operation at which the finished gear and pinion will operate. 6. A device for adapting a gear shaperhaving a pinion-shaped cutter rotatably driven at a constant speed during its reciprocating cutting operation to generate a varying speed gear in a continuous operation including a; Work. table mounted on the work spindle of the shaperhfor rotation therewith, a mandrel mounted on'said work table for relative movement with respect thereto and adapted to have a gear blank mounted thereon, a stationary cam' mounted coaxially with said work spindleya bell crank rotatable with said work table and pivotally mounted thereon, one lever arm of said bell crank being adapted to engage said cam'and the other lever arm of said bell crank having operative connection with said mandrel for moving said mandrel relative to said work table, and means for holding said one lever arm of said lbell crank in'engagement with said cam, to cause said cam to move said'bell crank and said gear blank during rotation of said work table at speeds which vary with respect to the speed of rotation of said work table and cause said gear blank and cutter to turn during cutting at the same varying speed ratio at which the finished gear and pinion will operate.

7. A device for adapting a gear shaper having a pinion-shaped cutter rotatably driven at a constant speed during its reciprocating cutting operation to generate a varying speed gear in a continuous operation including a work table mounted on the work spindle of the shaper for rotation therewith, a mandrel mounted on said work table for relative movement with respect thereto and adapted to have a gear blank mounted thereon, a stationary cam mounted coaxially with said work spindle, a bell crank rotatable with said work table and pivotally mounted thereon, rider means on one lever arm of said bell crank for engaging said cam, means for holding said rider means in engagement with said cam, the other leverarm of said bell crank having gear teeth out integrally therewith, the center of the pitch circle of which is coaxial with the pivotal axis of said bell crank, said gear teeth meshing with a gear sector on said mandrel, for moving said mandrel with said work table during rotation thereof and at the same time moving said mandrel and gear blank relative to said work table, to cause said gear blank and cutter to turn during cutting at the same varying speed ratio at which the finished gear and pinion will operate.

8. In a gear shaper for producing a varying speed gear, a pinion-shaped cutter rotatably driven at a constant speed during its reciprocating cutting operation, a rotating -work spindle, a support for a gear blank mounted for relative rotative movement with respect to said work spindle, a cam, a cam follower-mounted for rotation with said work spindle and having an operative engagement with said cam, and means actuated by the movement of said cam follower in following the contour of said cam for advancing'or retarding the rate of said movement of said gear blank relative to said work spindle in accordance with-the relative speed ratio at which the finished gear and pinion-will operate.

9. Ina gear shaper for producinga varying speed gear, a. pinion-shaped cutter rotatably driven at a constant speed during its reciprocat-1 ing cutting operation, a -work spindle adapte for rotation during reciprocating movement of, said cutter, a support for'a gear blank adapted'l to rotate relatively with respect to said, work spindle, a stationary cam, a cam follower mounted-for rotation with said work spindle, said cam follower having an arm in operative engagement with the contour of said cam, and a second armhaving an operative connection with said gearjblank support, and means for holding the'first named arm of said cam-followerin engagement'with the contour surface of said cam to advance or retard the rate of feed movement of said gear blank. with respect to said work spindle in accordance with the relative speed ratio at which the finished gear and pinion will operate.

'10. In a gear shaper for producing a varying speed gear, a: pinion-shaped. cutter rotatably driven at a constant speed during its reciprocating cutting movement, a rotating work spindle, a support for a gear blank mounted for relative rotative movement with respect to said work spindle, a stationary cam, a bell crank mounted for rotation with said-work spindle and also mounted for pivotal movement: with respect to said work spindle, one lever arm of said bell crank having operative, engagement with said cam, means for holding said one lever arm in engagement with said cam, the other lever arm of said bell crank havinggeanteeth cut integrally therewith, the center of the pitchcircle of said gear teeth lying on the pivotal axis of said bell crank, said i'gear teethmeshing with a gear sector on said gear blank support, the center of the pitch circle of said gear sector lying in the pivotal axis of said gear blank support, for advancing or retarding therate of feed movement of said gear blank with respect to said work spindle in accordance with the relative speed ratio at which, the finished gear and pinion will operate.

. EMIL J. I-ILINSKY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,063,262 Miller Dec. 8. 19:36 2,098,132 Buchholz J. .Nov. 2, 1937 2,372,240 Wildhaber Mar. 27, 1945 2,372,241 Wildhaber Mar. 27, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 552,348 Great Britain Apr. 2, 1943 865,207 France Feb. 17, 19 41 

